Fire response delayed as shooting location fell outside city limits
Fire response delayed due to subdivision located outside Billings city limits.
Event / Security
Billings Montana Mass Shooting
Eight family members, including four children, were killed in a shooting and fire in Billings, Montana. The shooter, 44-year-old Alan Smith, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The incident was the deadliest U.S. mass shooting since April 2026.
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2026-08-26 to 2026-11-08 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 26 Aug, 04:34 UTC
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What happened
This is the 22nd mass killing in the United States this year
The Billings shooting was the 22nd mass killing in the U.S. in 2026 according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University. Fifteen of the 22 mass killings stemmed from domestic disputes, which is higher than the historical average of approximately 50 percent.
12-year-old victim called 911 during shooting
Charlotte Ghekiere, age 12, called 911 during the shooting and attempted to save her family before being killed.
Identified victims in Montana shooting include former wife and three stepchildren of shooter's relative
Among the eight victims were Megan Ghekiere (ex-wife of Brad Ireland), their two children Owen Ireland (13) and Chloe Ireland (7), Ghekiere's two stepchildren Landon Ghekiere (15) and Charlotte Ghekiere (12), and Alan Smith's parents Dana and Barb Smith, plus his grandmother Evelyn Smith.
Fire response delayed due to subdivision location outside municipal limits
The home was located in a subdivision outside municipal limits that was not required to have fire hydrants. Firefighting efforts were delayed until the site was secure, allowing the fire to spread extensively and burn the house to its foundation. Firefighters fought the blaze until approximately 1 a.m.
Smith family had relocated from Seattle to Montana
The Smith family was originally from the Seattle area. Brad Ireland and Megan Ghekiere divorced six years ago, after which Ghekiere moved to Montana with their children. Her parents Dana and Barb Smith subsequently moved to Billings, buying a house near their daughter's home. Alan Smith moved in with his parents in Montana and lived with them for years.
Deadliest mass shooting in U.S. since April 2026
The Montana shooting is the deadliest in the United States since April 2026, when a Louisiana father fatally shot eight children, including seven of his own, and shot and wounded his wife and another woman.
Shooter's parents had forced him to move out weeks before the attack
Alan Smith's parents had asked him to move out of their home approximately two weeks before the shooting. Smith unexpectedly returned to the home on Sunday evening when the family had gathered for their weekly dinner.
Eight family members killed in shooting and fire in Billings, Montana
A 44-year-old man identified as Alan Smith killed eight relatives, including four children, at a family home in Billings, Montana on Sunday evening. The victims spanned four generations, ranging from a great-grandmother in her 90s to a 7-year-old child. After the shooting, the house was set on fire and burned to its foundation. Smith died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Shooter had no prior criminal record despite concerning behavior
A search of criminal records in Montana and Washington found no record that Alan Smith had ever been arrested or charged with a crime. He had attended Eastern Washington University, was unable to find or hold a job, and spent most of his time in his room on his computer. Family members noted warning signs and said many people had spoken out, but no intervention occurred.
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2 alternative perspectives
Shooter's family history reveals isolation and parental conflict before attack
Shooter had no criminal record despite concerning behavior and family conflict preceding the attack.
Eight killed in Montana shooting, deadliest U.S. incident since April
Eight killed in Billings shooting, deadliest U.S. incident since April 2026.